Alright, over here in the States we don’t get as much Soccer coverage as we should. I admit that.
I get ESPN The Magazine and there was an interesting piece in there about the “Everton Way” and how it is used all over the place to train young players because… Everton has to be better at training. Why? Well, part of their recruiting area is inaccessible (apparently part of their recruiting area is in the Irish Sea.)
I thought “The Way” was all well and good (and very cool. The tenets of “The Way” make perfectly good sense), but people are asking if “The Way” will mean a resurgence in American Soccer.
Baloney! Let’s be honest for a second. In Europe people are typically better educated (yes, I said it) and therefore have more mental stamina. (Yes, I’m an American.) That means that they can watch a 90 minute Soccer match without getting bored. European fans can enjoy and understand the nuance and subtle beauty of a well-played (yet usually low-scoring) Soccer match.
In America, we want everything right now. We want action and results and blood and gore and we want it quick. Slow-moving games don’t fit that mold. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of Americans love Soccer(and plenty of Americans are smart), but overall it just doesn’t fit the American sensibility (or lack thereof.)
So no, Soccer isn’t making a resurgence here because meathead Dads will want their kids to play Football, Baseball or Basketball so their kid can support them in their middle age with their professional athlete’s salary.
Then there’s this other problem.
You know what, Everton isn’t fairing so well this season. What do they have, 3 points? Yikes! They can come over here and talk up their game, but they’ve got to back it up on the field. Personally, I want to see them do well and I will follow them more closely because of “The Way”. Not that somuchas the fact that it draws attention to the majestic tradition and history that exists in English Soccer.
Yes, it is majestic.
The Premier League is a beautiful thing. All these historic clubs with rich traditions and long histories. All of the clubs can tout some kind of success in some era and anyone could simply latch onto a club and enjoy them because there is so much of everything to be had. That is something that is lacking in American sports in general.
Just because Everton isn’t doing well right now doesn’t mean “The Way” doesn’t work…but it does mean we’re going to be watching carefully to find out if it does. Come on Blues, you can do this! If only everyone could see how lovely you are.
{ 4 trackbacks }